John matheny



(Nu Mdel.)

J.`MATHENY.

SAFETY EGG CASE) No. 569,760.v Patented 0G13. 20, 1896.

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JOHN llIATI-IENY, OI" INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SAFETY EGG-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,760, dated October 20, 1896.

Application led March 23, 1896. Serial No. 584,465. (No modell To all whom it may concer/t:

Be it known that LJ oHN Mnrnnivre citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have in vented certain new and useful Iniprovements in SafetyEgg-Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an appliance for safely carrying and handling eggs in quantities for various purposes; and it consists of a metallic case having yokes in which the eggs are securely held separately without danger of breakage, as will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is lto provide a case or holder for eggs in which they may be held in elastic clamps separately from each other, so as to obviate all danger of breakage, which case may be constructed in the form of a box for grouping and shipping purposes, in the form of a basket or carrier for small delivery, or in the form of a hand-holder by which the eggs may be supported in a vessel While being boiled.

A further object is to provide such a case as shall be adapted for various quantities of eggs, with such modifications as Will provide for any number that may be desired, as a casedesigned for one dozen shall equally well hold any less number, or one arranged for a greater number shall hold equally Well any less quantity.

These objects are attained in my invention, which has the further advantage in that it comprises under certain conditions a counter or cheek upon a count of dozens or factors thereof, Itis furthermore readily emptied of the contents Without the necessity of lifting out the eggs by hand. It is of feiv parts,

showing the manner in which the eggs are released and removed.

In the drawings, A designates the case, of which ci a are the sides constituting the main frame, made of metal, either closed or of open or perforated Work and of any desired size. In some cases this frameis made rectangular and may have rounded corners, or it may be made circular in form. It may also be provided with any suitable handle G for convenience in carrying. rIhe frame may also be covered at top and bottom by close plates or by wire grating or netting, as may be desired, when used for crating and shipping.

Across the frame at the part I term the bottom are a series of metallic rods B, fixed at their ends to the frame. In the case shown, which is designed to hold one dozen eggs, there are three such stationary rods, and each rod has secured to it four spring-wire yokes or loops C, being preferably attached by means of their ends turned to form a shoulder and, passing through perforations in the rods, have riveted ends b. Parallel with these rods are a like number of similar rods B', mounted rotatably in the frame and having similar yokes C', secured thereto in a like manner. At the central part of each of the bars B is permanently attached a lever e, the opposite end of which enters a perforation in the slidable operating-rod D and is slightly headed over to retain it. In some cases, however, I may employ any suitable pivotal connection between the slidable rod and levers. Near the end of the rod D it is reduced in thickness at d and passes through a perforation II, having a side slot I in the front a of the frame. The end of the rod is preferably provided with a knob or handle d.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4, F designates eggs, (Shown in dotted lines.) To make use of my case, the rod D is drawn outward through the openin g II, the operation separating the yokes G from the companion yokes O, spreading them apart sufficiently to permit the insertion of an egg between each pair of yokes. After placing any desired number the rod D is pressed inward, theelasticity of the springyokes permitting the rod to be pressed up until the -flattened part d may be drawn sidea ICO wise into the notch I, the shoulder h engaging the inside edge of the frame and latching the rod, thus securing the contents of the case. It is obvious that when a certain nurnber of cases are illed, each designed to hold, say, one dozen eggs, it may be readily determined how many eggs are incased, and is a great advantage when large numbers are shipped. To remove the eggs, the ease is inverted, the latch sprung out of engagement, and the rod D drawn out, releasing the eggs from pressure by the yokes, so that the case may be lifted off, leaving the eggs free.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details may be made within the limits of my invention, as the frame may be rough or finished, tinned or galvanized, and the rods may be of round, square, or flat section.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An egg-case consisting of a metallic frame forming the sides and ends; a series of rods extending across the bottom of said frame and permanently secured thereto; a series of iiexible yokes or loops secured at one side to each of said rods, the free portions oi' said yokes extending toward the top of said frame; a series of rods situated parallel With said fixed rods and mounted, rotatably in said frame, and provided with a series of companion yokes secured thereto so that they may be moved toward and away from said iirstmentioned yokes; a lever secured permanently to each of said rotatable rods; a rod slidable longitudinally through an aperture in the front of said frame near the upper por tion, said rod being connected operatively to the upper end of each of said levers, and suitable means for latching said slidable rod to said frame when pressed inward, substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

2. In an eggcase or holder, the combination of the frame; the stationary rods across the bottom thereof provided with the iiexible yokes; the rotatably-supported rods situated parallel with and adjacent to said fixed rods, and provided with companion yokes; the levers attached to said rotatable rods; the slidable operating-rod connecting the free ends of said levers; the handle at the end of said operating-rod, and the means for latching said rod to said frame, substantially'as and for the purposes shown and described.l

In testimony whereof 1 affix my signature in presence oi two Witnesses.

1 i JOHN MA'rHENY.

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Vitnesses:

J No. S. THURMAN, DAVID K. BRUCE. 

